Oblanceolate or obovate leaves, about 20-200 per plant, form a basal rosette with stems absent or present.

Inflorescences are 10–25 cm long and produce pink flowers that bloom year-round in their native range.

S. debile's historical distribution included a range on the Atherton Tableland, at Mt Playfair near Tambo, Queensland, and as far south as Alexandria Swamps in Sydney, though it is probably extinct in these locations due to extensive habitat modification.

Its typical habitat has been reported as sandy or pale silty clay soils on creekbanks or in swampy areas.

S. debile is most closely related to S. paniculatum but differs by the inflorescence form and the presence of bracts.